Cotswold

Cotswold's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in average age, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 83,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Cotswold increased by 3.1%, from just under 80,400 to 82,900.

The addition of just over 2,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cotswold was home to, on average, 0.51 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South West's third-least densely-populated district.

Population density was lower than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Cotswold

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cotswold increased by four years, from 42 to 46 years.

This agricultural area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 14% of people in Cotswold are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cotswold by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Cotswold

The number of people in Cotswold that described themselves as Christian increased from just over 64,000 in 2001 to just under 57,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 80% to 69% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South West (from 74% to 60%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Cotswold that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 10,000 in 2001 to about 19,000 in 2011 (from 13% to 23%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 5,000 to just over 6,000 (from 6.2% to 7.3%).

Just over 310 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 230 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Cotswold decreased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cotswold by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Cotswold

The proportion of married people fell in Cotswold, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except South Gloucestershire.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

During this period, Cotswold overtook Dorset, South Gloucestershire and Isles of Scilly to become the South West local authority area with the highest percentage of married people.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (55%) people aged 16 and over in Cotswold said they were married, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 23% to 26%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Cotswold, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Exeter.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 8.4% to 10%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 11 (8.8%) households in Cotswold had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.8% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person increased from 29% to 30%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Cotswold that rented privately increased from 12% to 15% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of Cotswold households that owner their home decreased from 68% to 66%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Cotswold increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Cotswold, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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